It was 2006 when a sandy island most residents had never heard of was announced as the site for a $40 billion (Dh146.9bn) leisure project with a racetrack at its heart.
Hotels, a golf course and the city's largest shopping mall would turn Habel Al Abyadh, or "the White Cord", into Yas Island.
But for residents craving entertainment, nothing brought more excitement than the promise of Abu Dhabi’s first theme park: Ferrari World.
Next year, that theme park turns 10 – and its management has a long list of events planned to mark the occasion.
Although the team remain tight-lipped about the itinerary, several areas of the park suggest plans are well under way for the occasion. The theme park is a hit among residents and tourists, with millions having enjoyed a ride or two on the world's fastest roller coaster, the Formula Rossa.
"I love that it's the world's fastest roller coaster and that it's in the Guinness Book of Records," said the park's general manager, Bianca Sammut. "You get to feel what it's like to be an F1 driver, where you can feel that intensity, thrill and speed."
The attraction catapults its riders to 240kph before they are shot up, dipped down and spun in loops for 92 seconds – though it feels much longer.
Maintenance and safety has been crucial to the park's longevity as a top attraction.
Whether it is climbing steep tracks, inspecting lap bar hydraulic cylinders or regularly test-riding the Formula Rossa, an army of engineers, technicians and ride operators work round the clock to keep the amusement park in top condition.
"We put a lot of work into it and what goes on behind the scenes. There are so many details on so many levels from all the different departments. It’s very important to us, and we’re proud of the work that we do,” Sammut said.
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ELIO
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Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
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26 - New Zealand v England at Auckland, March 1955
30 - South Africa v England at Port Elizabeth, Feb 1896
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35 - South Africa v England at Cape Town, April 1899
36 - South Africa v Australia at Melbourne, Feb. 1932
36 - Australia v England at Birmingham, May 1902
36 - India v Australia at Adelaide, Dec. 2020
38 - Ireland v England at Lord's, July 2019
42 - New Zealand v Australia in Wellington, March 1946
42 - Australia v England in Sydney, Feb. 1888
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Family: wife, four children, 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren
Reads: Newspapers, historical, religious books and biographies
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Regrets: Not completing college in Karachi when universities were shut down following protests by freedom fighters for the British to quit India
Happiness: Work on creative ideas, you will also need ideals to make people happy
Biography
Favourite drink: Must have karak chai and Chinese tea every day
Favourite non-Chinese food: Arabic sweets and Indian puri, small round bread of wheat flour
Favourite Chinese dish: Spicy boiled fish or anything cooked by her mother because of its flavour
Best vacation: Returning home to China
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THE SCORES
Ireland 125 all out
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UAE 125 for 5
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